February 8, 2007

This afternoon I was visiting various and sundry departments of the widely dispersed Ohio 
State University Libraries. I concluded the afternoon at the biological sciences library, which 
is somewhat near to the Drake Union pedestrian bridge over the Olentangy River. So I 
decided to consume some of the surplus time on my parking meter and go see if the black-
crowned night-herons were still around. They are.

The species has regularly overwintered along this stretch of the Olentangy for the last few 
years at least, as various reports to this list have chronicled.

There is a small remaining patch of open water just upstream from the bridge, where a 
tributary drainage enters the west bank. Seven night-herons were perched in the trees 
above the open water patch. A flock of about 60 ring-billed gulls sat on the ice with one 
herring gull.

It was around 4:15.

For access, I parked at "Visitor" parking meters at the southernmost of the two towers, 
Morrill or Lincoln - I forget which is which. This gave five minute or less walking access to 
both the bio library and the river. 

I also saw one very cold-looking robin during my walk to the river.

Bob Evans
Geologist, etc.
Hopewell

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